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Driver died in crash on wrong lane

A MOTORIST who was nearly twice the drink-drive limit died after hitting an oncoming car on the wrong side of the road, an inquest heard.

Stephen James, of Squires Close, Brize Norton, was driving on the Oxford-bound A40 at Barnard Gate, Witney, when motorists saw his car go into the Witney-bound lane.

An inquest at Oxford’s County Hall heard Mr James, a father-of-three, had a history of depression and alcohol problems and had been told by his wife, Shirley, that she was considering a divorce.

Oxfordshire coroner Darren Salter recorded a verdict of accidental death and said: “Because of the mental health history and recent events, and the fact that Mr James has had suicidal thoughts previously, I have had to consider whether this was an attempt to take his own life.

“The evidence of Mrs James was that he appeared fine and was in a good mood and that she didn’t think he had an intent to take his own life.

“There is not sufficient evidence to return a verdict, so that is not my findings.”

Jeremy Howell was driving towards Witney with his seven-year-old daughter, Sophia, when Mr James’ car smashed into them at about 6.50pm on April 22 last year.

Mr Howell told the inquest: “I cut my speed and moved over to the left as far as I could, hoping to leave a gap. There was then a huge impact and my car spun.”

The coroner said: “One thing that is clear is there is nothing Mr Howell could have done to avoid the collision.

PC Kevin Spiller, collision investigator, told the inquest that CCTV recorded on a bus showed the car’s movement across the carriageway appeared sudden.

He said Mr James, 47, who had been in the RAF before working as a civilian driver at Brize Norton, was not wearing a seat belt and was driving at about 50mph. The limit on the road is 60mph.

A toxicology report said there was 149mg of alcohol per 100ml of Mr James’ blood. The legal limit is 80mg.

Mr Salter said: “It is relevant to consider there was alcohol in his blood – just under twice the drink-drive limit. We all know the affect that can have, particularly on a person’s actions when driving.”

An air ambulance attended and paramedic Paul Jefferies said Mr James was already suffering a cardiac arrest.

Professor Ian Roberts, a consultant pathologist, said the cause of Mr James’ death was a blunt chest injury with cardiac arrest and hemopericardium – an accumulation of blood surrounding the heart – associated with resuscitation procedures.

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